Judge Delays Love’s Contract Dispute Trial

A Los Angeles judge delayed the start of a trial pitting rock star Courtney Love against music giant Universal Music in a breach-of-contract case being closely watched as more music artists challenge the terms of their record deals.

Lawyers for both sides declined to comment about a meeting Monday with a court-appointed mediator after the delay was imposed because of a crowded court schedule. In December 1999, Love decided to stop recording for Geffen, the Universal Music label named in the suit.

Universal Music is the world’s largest music company and a unit of France’s Vivendi Universal. Last year, the label and Universal Music sued Love, seeking millions of dollars in damages for five undelivered albums. Love countersued, also in 2001.